Trainer Mitchell Freedman and favourite supporters may have only just let out a collective sigh of relief, depending on when you’re reading this, as a peculiar trait almost cost Skybird victory in the Gilgai Stakes at Flemington.
Sent off as the $2.90 market favourite, Skybird appeared poised for a comfortable win when jockey Ben Melham eased the six-year-old mare down considerably in the final metres. This allowed visiting Perth jockey Austin Galati and the $6 chance Smooth Chino to launch a strong late challenge, ultimately falling short by a mere short-half-head.
“She’s got a big handbrake on her and when you stop, she stops,” Freedman commented.
“I think we were pretty lucky that the visiting rider mistimed the winning post a little bit there otherwise he might have got over the top of us.
“Anyway, we’ll take the win. We’re relieved and we’re happy to get the win.”
This triumph marks Skybird’s return to the winner’s circle after a 19-month absence, her last victory being in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington in February 2025.
“She was well placed by the team and they’ve done a great john prepping her up off the back of the Queensland campaign and we’re thrilled to get back in the winners’ circle with her because she’s had a fair few hard luck stories since that Lightning Stakes win,” Freedman added.
The ultimate goal for Skybird is the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) on the concluding day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, though the interim race plan remains fluid.
“We’d love to see her in the Champions Sprint,” Freedman stated.
“What we do now, we might head up to Sydney in a couple of weeks’ time. There’s some good money there to chase, otherwise we might see her on Cox Plate Day here back in trip. Plenty of options for her.”
Stewards levied a charge against Melham for failing to ride his mount out to the finish line, a charge to which the jockey, a 25-time Group 1 winner, pleaded guilty. He was subsequently fined $2,000.
“She’s a very good sprinter on her day but she needs a few things in her favour,” Freedman concluded.
“When she can get the run like that cuddled up, she’s got an electric turn-of-foot but don’t stop riding her.”
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